Abigail Adams 2d to John Quincy Adams

N 14

[dateline] London April 25th 1786

Last night I Closed my Letter to you1 and shall send it to Mr Jenks's care this Morning. I determine not to delay writing
from day to day, till it becomes urkessome, but to finish my story and then go on
regularly—theres a good resolution—I shall now begin by telling you a peice of News—Call
all your fortitude to your aid before you proceed–here pause a moment . . .2 do you think yourself sufficiently guarded—be sure of that—and then attend—Mr Bowdoin,
the Gentleman you left in Paris,3 proceeded from thence to Holland, where he has been till within a few weeks: when
he returnd to this place, proposing to go from hence to America. He called to pay
us his respects one Morning. We inquired after your friends at the Hague, and he told
us that he had heard Miss Dumas was soon to be very well Married.4I do not here ask any Confession of your Faith. You will { 151 } I dare say be happy to hear so pleasing an account of a Lady for whom you have so
much respect and Esteem.

I just mentiond the letter I received yesterday,5 in my Letter last Eve, and shall now notice it particularly. Your Letters my Dear
Brother afford me more pleasure than you can beleive. I expect them with impatience,
and am allways, made happy at their arrival. Do not discontinue them. I am sure you
will not. I do not wonder that your meeting with our Dear Brothers after so long a
seperation, put you in such Spirits. Could our family meet in some such moment, I
should consider it as a happy period. But I have, said enough upon this subject to
convince you that it is one of the first wishes of my heart. But I dare not think
how long it may be, before it arrives.

I think my Brother that you do not discover Candor enough for the foibles, of others
especially the Ladies. The best dispositions are not Convinced by Severity, and austerity.
Only reflect upon your own disposition, and I am sure you will be convinced of this.
And remember that if a young Lady is Capable of inconsistencys if she is deficient
in judgment prudence &c, that the fault is not half so much her own as, those who
have had the Care of her education. We are like Clay in the Hands, of the Artist,
and may be moulded to whatever form, they please. The more knowledge and judment they
possess, the fewer faults will be found in their productions. I believe that the earliest
impressions of the Mind are too generally neglected, and it is those which often have
the greatest affect. You may if you attend to it, observe in many of your acquaintance,
habits and fauts, which have from not being early enough attended to, Grown up, and
proved so forcible as to resist all future attempts to Correct them. You may observe
it in the most trifling circumstances and you may generally decide, by hearing a Person
converse an hour, what has been their early education. You may judge from their Language,
the very frases they use to express their ideas. And tho they may be sensible in some
degree of those faults, I am inclined to beleive it is not in their power to correct
them. A Gentleman who is severe against the Ladies, is also, upon every principle
very impolitick. His Character is soon established, for a Morose severe ill Natured
Fellow. And upon my word, I think it the most Convincing proof that he can give, that
He feels their Power importance, and <equallity> Superiority. It is I assure you a want of Generosity, and I will challenge you to
produce one instance of a Person of this disposition { 152 } who did not at some period of his Life, acknowledge his dependance upon them. Persons
who are conscious, of their superiority in any subject, are generally diffident in
proclaiming their own merrit. They will prefer to prove it by their actions and Conduct,
rather than discover their own knowledge of it. <I would never dispute with you, were you to assert that we were your inferiors incapable
even of those improvements which you would the superiors>

Miss Hamilton of whom I wrote you quits England in a few days, and not with out regret.
She has got a little attached to the amusements and pleasures of this place, tho she
behaves perfectly well upon the Subject. She is a sweet amiable Girl. I shall regret
her more than any other Lady of my acquaintance.

Your account of Mrs Duncans Death is very melancholy. It must have been a great shock
to her family. I have I think noticed most of your letter. I presented your respects
to Mr S—— and he desird me in return to say every thing to you for him which you could
wish—he says he will write you and tell you that I dont keep, a strict journal.

I want much to hear from you from Cambridge, and to know how you like your new Situation.
I hope now to receive later letters from you for do you know that five months have
passd since the date of your last N 12,6 which leads me to hope that I shall receive another by Davis.

Your friend Winslow Warren has returd, to Milton we hear. Pappa wrote him and forwarded
to him letters from his father in December,7 but they did not reach him, before his departure from thence, and have been since
returnd, and forwarded to him at Boston. Pappa had promised him his interest as Consull
to Lisbon. It was then supposed that Congress would have impowerd their Ministers
to appoint Consulls, but they have not received any commission for it. Mr Gerry wrote
Pappa that Congress had resolvd to appoint him Consull General to this County and
Mr Jefferson in France, but they have heard nothing further of it.8 I suppose they meant it to save any sallery with the Commission, but Pappa determines
that it is not possible for him to Act in it. It would be a scene of trouble and vexation
withot any reward. This how ever seems to be expected by Congress, that every Body
in their service shold submit to. The March Packet has not yet arrived, and the 2
or thre last Months Packets have brought nothing New. There were but Seven states
represented by the last accounts and Mr—— the Presidents Health did not permit him
to attend.9 The Commercial Commissions you know Expire in a few days. So that nothing more can
be done with { 153 } any Power, till it is either renewd or something done by Congress. Soon after Pappa
arrived here he proposed the plan of a treaty to Mr Pitt.10 It was taken no notice of. When Mr Jefferson arrived, they informd Lord Carmarthen
of it and likewise that their Commissions would expire soon. His Lordship then desird
another Plan, might be proposed, merely Commercil. The Gentlemen drew up, a Treaty
in 5 articles, giveing equal Libertys rights &c, to the two Nations, since which not
a word of answer has been receivd, and Mr J— Leavs London tomorrow, so that tis plain
they will do nothing. They pretend to doubt the Powers of Congress, in short their
Conduct appears Consistently ridiculous. What time will produce we know not. Pappa
Complains and sometimes talks of going home, but I doubt it I Confess, till Congress
recall him, which perhaps they will if there is no Minister appointed to them from
hence. Before Bingham went away he told a friend, that the Cabbinet had now determined
upon sending a Minister to America and he beleived it was in Consequence of a Conversation he had had a few days before with
Mr Eden, and went off perhaps in the beleif. Hower his Mourtion [Motion?] has as yet prodouced nothing. If you see the English papers you will see that Mr
Eden is sent to Paris to <form> a finish, Crawford Commercial arangements which perhaps were never began11–but enough of Politicks.

[dateline] 25th.

We had a Company to dine to day. Mrs Smith from Carolina Mr Ridley who goes to America
in a few weeks, Dr Bancroft Colln Forrest Mr Brown the Painter, Mr Drake from Connecticut
who brought a Letter of introduction from your friend Mr Brush, to Pappa, he does
not appear to be any thing extra. Mr Barthelemy the Charge d'Affairs de France le
Comt de Baigelin and le Compt de Gramond, 2 young French officers who brought Letters-of
introduction from the Marquis de la Fayette.12 Mr Jefferson and Pappa went after dinner to the Chevalier de Pintos to put their
Names to the Treaty with Portugal.13

[dateline] Wedensday 26th

Mr Jefferson left London, to our regret. He has dined with us whenever he has not
been otherwise engaged, and made this House a kind of Home which you will know must
have been very agreeable to us all.14 He has given Mr Trumble an invitation to go to Paris and keep at His House, where
he intends to have his pictures engraved. { 154 } He is acquiring great reputation by the subjects he has taken up.15 In the Evening we went to one of the little Theatres here to see Tumbling Rope dancing
and wondrous feats of various kinds performed some of Which were really astonishing—but
cannot be described.16

[dateline] Thursday 27th.

We went for the first time this season to the Opera, and I imagine it will be the
last. The English Boast of this House as superior to any the French have. It may be
larger, but for Elegance of artichetere there is no Comparison. It was the benefit
of Md Mason, one of the principle dancers who fearing I suppose that the House would
not be full went round and left Tickets, asking your attendance at her benefit. We
accordingly went, the House was not full, the Company were highly dressd. The performance
is all in Italian you know, and People never go to the Opera to understand what they
hear. The Instrumental Musick was very good but there was no singing extraordinary.
The Dancing was fine. Vestris is here this Winter, and Bacthell, who was last winter
at the Duke of Dorsetts Hotell.17 She is a good figure and Dances, as well as Vestris I think. After the Opera, the
greatest Curiossity is to go into the Coffee Room, where the Whole Company resort
to wait for their Carriages and take some refreshment if they Choose, for you know,
the English have no amusement where eating and drinking, is not introduced. The Prince
of Wales, the Duke d'Orleans and the Duke de Fitz James,18 just made their appearance, for ten minutes I suppose, to sett the Whole House a
staring and then went off. The Princes followers might all be distinguished by their
dress, a blue frock with Gold frogs. There were several of them in his suit this Eve.
They appeard all about the same size, and so delicate, eff[em]inate and Languid, just fit for Companions for19 a Prince who professs to make pleasure is only pursuit.

[dateline] Saturday 29th.

We have dined to day with an oald Bacheller, Mr Wm Vaughan. He had invited us to make
a little excursion out of Town about Seven miles, to see a celebrated House and Garden
belonging to Lord Tylney,20 and we intended to have gone, but the weather for several days has been disagreeable
and we deferd it to some other time. The Company were our family Mr B Vaughan and
Lady, Dr Priestly who has been in Town a few weeks, upon a visit, Dr Price, { 155 } Dr Keppis, Dr Reives, and one or two other Gentlemen who I did not know.21 5 of the Company were dissenting Ministers and opsd Libereal Men, all of them are
writers of Eminence. The two first you know by Character Dr Priestly is a little stiff
trig Man, his Countenance as Calm and unruffled as a summers sea. He was the most
silent Person in Company. <Mr B V—— who has no objection to talking> Dr Price took a seat between Mrs Vaughan and myself, and Dr Keppis, upon the other
side of Mrs Vau, and Mamma. Some person observed that those two Gentlemen were very
happily situated. Dr P—— said he had the best seat, Mr Wm V—— told him that ought
to have been his place, but the Dr refused to Change, and said Mr V. had told him
before we came that he was to have a young Lady to dine with him to day. The Dr answered
he did not know what young Lady would trust herself with him, but he said she had
come with her Mother. Mr V. said the Dr after gave him some kind admonitions about
Marrying, yet said Dr Price, I never think a young Man safe till he is Married. The
Conversation was very sprightly among the oald Gentlemen who all Commended Dr P——
galantry. Balloons, Messmarism Witchcraft &c &c, were the subjects of general Conversation,
and I had like to have obserd that I thought that Foolish Folks could talk quite as
well as Wise ones.

We came home about eight oclock, and Called upon Mrs Shipley the Wife of the Bishop
of St Asaph, who's family has visitted us, but were not at home this Eve.22

8. Elbridge Gerry to JA, 8 Nov. 1785 (Adams Papers). Congress resolved on 28 Nov. that their ministers plenipotentiary in Europe assume
the duties of consul general for the countries in which they resided (JCC, 29:855).

9. John Hancock was elected president of Congress on 23 Nov. 1785, but a severe attack
of gout prevented him from traveling to New York to attend its sessions. He resigned
the post on 6 June 1786 (Harlow Giles Unger, John Hancock: Merchant King and American Patriot, N.Y., 2000, p. 307–308).

10. For JA's meeting with William Pitt on 24 Aug. 1785, see vol. 6:296, note 4, and references there.

11. William Eden presented his credentials as special envoy to France on 4 April. The
commercial treaty was signed on 26 Sept. (Repertorium, 3:162). For the terms of the treaty see Cambridge Modern Hist., 8:284–285.

12. Neither the letter of introduction from { 156 } Eliphalet Brush nor those from Lafayette have been found.

13. The treaty with Portugal, although signed by Jefferson and possibly later by JA, was never ratified by either Portugal or the United States. For a complete discussion
of the negotiations of the treaty, see Jefferson, Papers, 9:xxviii—xxix, 410–433.

15. Trumbull accepted Jefferson's invitation, spending the month of August with him at
the Hôtel de Langeac. In Paris, Trumbull met his publisher, Anthony Poggi, who would
arrange for The Battle of Bunker's Hill to be engraved in Stuttgart. The artist departed Paris on 9 Sept., traveled the next
two months in Germany, and returned to London in November (Jefferson's Memorandum Books, 1:635; Jefferson, Papers, 10:251; The Autobiography of Colonel John Trumbull: Patriot-Artist, 1756–1843, ed. Theodore Sizer, repr., N.Y., 1970, p. 91, 121–122, 146).

16. The Adamses probably attended the performance at Sadler's Wells, which was known for
its shows featuring tumbling, acrobatics, and rope dancing, as well as musical numbers
and short plays (Morning Chronicle and London Advertiser, 26 April).

17. This was a performance of Pasquale Anfossi's I Viaggiatori Felici, followed by the ballet Le Premier Navigateur; or, La Force de l'Amour, choreographed by Maximilien Gardel, at King's Theatre. The ballet featured Marie
Auguste Vestris, one of the most celebrated dancers of his day; Giovanna Zanerini,
whose stage name was Bacelli; and Mademoiselle Mozon. Zanerini was the mistress of
the Duke of Dorset (Hoefer, Nouv. biog. générale; Morning Chronicle and London Advertiser, 25 April; Ivor Guest, The Ballet of the Enlightenment: The Establishment of the Ballet d'Action in France,
1770–1793, London, 1996, p. 205, 272).

18. Louis Philippe Joseph (1747–1793) succeeded his father as Duc d'Orléans in 1785. He became a leader of the opposition
in the Assembly of Notables in 1787, joined the Third Estate in 1789, and changed
his name to Citizen Egalité in 1792. Egalité was guillotined during the Reign of Terror.
His son became King Louis Philippe of France in 1830 (Hoefer, Nouv. biog. générale).

21. Benjamin and Sarah Manning Vaughan were the elder brother and sister-in-law of William
Vaughan. Benjamin (1751–1835), a London merchant, was a good friend of Benjamin Franklin and an American sympathizer.
For his unofficial role as Lord Shelburne's confidant in the Paris peace negotiations,
see JA, D&A, 3:53–54, 57–58, 72, 77–78, 100–101, 103–106. Vaughan's parliamentary career (1792–1794) was cut short when some of his papers
containing critical remarks about Pitt's ministry were found in the possession of
a French agent. He was examined before the Privy Council on 8 May 1794 and fled Britain
later in the month. Vaughan spent the next three years in France and Switzerland before
settling in Hallowell, Maine, with his family (DNB; Mary Vaughan Marvin, Benjamin Vaughan, 1751–1835, Hallowell, Maine, 1979, p. 30–55).

Andrew Kippis (1725–1795), dissenting minister in Westminster. Among his many literary works, Kippis undertook
the second edition of Biographia Britannica, publishing five volumes with a colleague before his death (DNB).

Abraham Rees (1743–1825), dissenting minister, pastor of the Old Jewry congregation in London, and encyclopedist.
Rees issued the 45-volume New Cyclopaedia; or, Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences, 1802–1820 (same).

22. Jonathan Shipley (1714–1788), bishop of St. Asaph, was married to Anna Maria Mordaunt (d. 1803); they had five daughters (same). In June, the bishop officiated at the wedding of
AA2 and WSS.